Hidden castaways discovered

Tucked into the display room of the Prospect Gallery, a collection of would be castaways have been transformed into modern art.

For local artists Jennifer Layther, Julia Moretti and Sandra Naulty, using what some may consider as throwaway items to make pieces of art has become quite an obsession.

The towers

Collecting materials over a five-year period, what began as an idea to create a collection of original garden ornaments has ended in a display of over 40 pieces.

A collection of blue and white porcelain items, from teapots, bowls and cups to vases and figurines, have been vertically attached to from Jennifer's unique My Towers display.

Collecting her crockery from op-shops, garage sales and markets, Jennifer's second hand finds have been given a completely new appearance.

"It was about giving something that was discarded a new life."

Jennifer's passion with pottery began with breaking older pieces to create mosaics, but when she began to find blue and white pieces that she thought were too good to go under the hammer, the tower idea began to take shape.

"They were kind of too good to pass up," Jennifer said as she looked over her tower display.

The finds have now been transformed into 45 individual towers.

A pasta milliner

An Italian heritage has given Julia Moretti an almost predetermined passion for pasta.

Julia's mother, before she was married, worked as a milliner.

Combining the two parts of her family's history has produced some visually striking results.

Seeking out vintage hats from the 40s and 50s at local op-shops and heritage stores, Julia then went about recovering and redecorating the hats with pasta.

Luckily for Julia, her partner is also of Italian heritage and loves his pasta, so anything that does not become a decoration goes into a boiling pot.

"We have about six months supply," she says with a following laugh.

From floral arrangements to detailed weaves Julia's designs can take several hours to several days to create.

"I try to use different pasta on different hats, so there is a variety, and the pasta will dictate how I can place it and where the design comes from and how they can be put together.

"Pasta is the only food that I ever want to work."

Inspired by old jewellery

A collection of old Polynesian shell necklaces became the inspiration for silver-smith Sandra Naulty.

Utilising objects like old patty pans, teaspoons and silver off-cuts from earrings, Sandra has turned her selection of castaways into broaches, hair clips and jewellery.

"Sometimes it's amazing how well they do come together and it can be a really lovely, contemplative process, just sitting there moving the shapes around."

Silver spoon heads have been tied together and topped with polished patty tins to create bangles and broaches, tiny silver off cuts from the centres of earrings have been used to create miniature broaches and jewellery features.

Recycling what may have been thrown away into new, valuable items.

"I think that is what collecting is about, just seeing the everyday object quite differently to how some people do."